Steroid sapogenin compounds and process for their production



United States Patent O STEROID SAPOGENIN COMPOUNDS AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION Carl Djerassi, Birmingham, Mich, and Alan J. Lemin, George Rosenkranz, and Franz Sondheimer, Mexico City, Mexico, assignors to Syntex S.A., Mexico City, Mexico, a corporation of Mexico No Drawing. Filed Feb. 16, 1955, Ser. No. 488,707

Claims priority, application Mexico Feb. 22, 1954 21 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) The present invention relates to cyclopentanophenanthrene compounds and to a novel process for the production thereof.

More particularly, the present invention relates to novel 'ice the novel intermediates i.e. the 9a,l1a-monoepoxides of,

A' -22a-spirostene-3p,Soc-diol and or its esters and A -22aspirosten-5a-ol-3-one. These compounds are intermediates for the production of the novel A -22a-spirostadiene- 3,11-dione a valuable intermediate for the production of cortisone as will be hereinafter set forth in detail. The novel intermediate A :22a-spirostadiene 3 8,50; diol compounds are also in accordance with the present invention the starting material of a novel process for the production of the novel 7a,8u; 96;,11a-diepoxides of 22aspirostane-3 3,5u-diol and/or its esters and of 22a-spiro-' compounds of the steroidal sapogenin series having the th follo i equation;

A' grouping, to valuable intermediates derived from these compounds and having either anll-keto group or a 9u,lla-epoxido group and to a novel process for the production of these compounds. The novel compounds of the present invention, as will be hereinafter set forth in detail, are valuable intermediates for the production of 40 aforementioned peroxide a novel intermediate A -22a- 7 spirostadiene-3fi,5a-diol and/or its esters.

There has further been discovered in accordance with the present invention a novel process for the preparation Reduction In the above equation R represents the esterification residue of an organic acid of the type conventionally used for the esterification of steroid alcohols and especially the residue of a lower fatty acid such as acetic or propionic.

In general the process above outlined may be practiced I by dissolving the lower fatty acid esters as for example the acetate of the 5.8-peroxide of A -22a-spirostadien- 3,8-01 in an inert organic solvent such as dioxane and hydrogenating in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as Raney nickel. Upon purification the corresponding ester such as the 3-acetate of A -22a-spirostadiene-3fl,5a-diol is obtained. Conventional saponification of the esters resulted in the corresponding free compound. pound could be prepared by reducing the peroxide starting compound with zinc in an alkalinemedium preferably an ethanol solution and the esters can then be prepared by conventional esterification.

Another portion of the process of the present invenfrom A -22a-spirostadiene-3[3,5a-diol and/or its esters tion is illustrated by the following equation:

Oxidation Oxidation Chromic acid 2,977,358- Patented Mar. 28, 1961 ITKD' Instead of hydrogenation the same free com- Rearrangement Lewis Acid In the above equation R represents the same groups as R hereinbefore set forth and in addition represents hydrogen. I

As outlined above an ester such as the 3-acetate of A -22a-spirostadien-3 3,5a-diol (where R represents an esterification residue) is dissolved in an organic solvent such as ether and treated with approximately l.molar equivalent of an aromatic peracid such as monoperphthalic acid or perbenzoic acid. Preferably the reaction mixture is kept at room temperature for a period of time of the order of two days. The crystalline precipitate was separated and purified to give the desired product i.e. the acetate or other ester of 9a,1la-epoxido-N-ZZa-spirostene-3 3,5a-diol. An additional quantity of product could also be obtained by purification and concentration of the mother liquor. Saponification of the ester produced, in a conventional manner as with potassium caralso be obtained by oxidizing the free A' -ZZa-s irostadiene-3fi,5a-diol in the same manner as the just-described oxidation of the corresponding ester.

For the production of 90:,1Im-PCIOXidO-A ZZa-SPHO- S611-5oz-0l-3-0l16, the free 9a,l1a-epoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3,3,5a-diol as indicated is oxidized with an oxidizing agent capable of converting secondary hydroxy groups into keto groups such as chrornic acid preferably in pyridine although chromic acid in acetic acid is also suitable. The last step of the process involves rearrangement with a Lewis acid preferably boron 'trifluoride in 22a-spirostadiene-3,ll-dione, a compound possessing both the A -3-keto group and the ll-keto group of cortisone. The A -22aspirostadiene-3,ll-dione may be converted to cortisone by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of a palladium catalyst to first produce A -22a, Sa-spirostene- 3,11-dione. This last compound on treatment with lithium in liquid ammonia gave the corresponding 35, lla-diol in the presence of a lower aliphatic alcohol and the 3,1l-diketone in the absence of the alcohol. The 3,11-diketone upon selective reduction with sodium borohydride gives 22a,5p-spirostene-3a-ol-1l-one which may be conventionally acetylated to the corresponding 3-acetate, a known intermediate for the production of cortisone. The 3,8,11a-di0l has also been previously converted to cortisone.

Another valuable intermediate for the production of cortisone is prepared in accordance with the present invention as illustrated in the following equation:

Oxidation 2 Molar Equivalents x Aromatic Peracid (With Saponification it Ester) Dehydration Aluminum Alkoxide Reagent In the above equation R represents the same groups as heretofore set forth.

The above equation illustrates a modification of the process of the present invention wherein the same starting compound utilized in the previously set forth modification, A -22a-spirostadien-3p,5a-diol or the esters thereof, are treated with approximately 2 molar equivalents of an aromatic peracid such as monoperphthalic or perbenzoic acid under the same conditions as heretofore set forth except that preferably a shorter period of time (of the order of 12 hours) is used. The resultant compound is the corresponding diepoxide, 7a,8a;9oz,1ladiepoxido-22a-spirostan-3 3,5a-di0l.

Similarly when the product of the first step illustrated is treated with an oxidizing agent capable of converting secondary hydroxyl groups to keto groups, such as for example chromic acid in pyridine, there is produced the analogous diepoxide 3-ketone compound, 7a,8a;9oz,11-

diepoxido-22a-spirostane-5a-ol-3-one. This last com pound was then dehydrated with the use of a reagent as an aluminum alkoxide such as aluminum isopropylate, in the presence of an organic solvent such as toluene to produce the corresponding A -3-ketone, 7a,8oc;9a,11a-dlepoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3-one. This same compound may also be produced directly by treating 7a,8a;9a,l1a-

,diepoxido-Z2a-spirostane-3/3,5a-diol with an Oppenauer reagent i.e. an aluminum alkoxide as set forth, an inert solvent and a ketone hydrogen acceptor as indicated in the equation.

The final product of the last described modification of the process of thepresent invention, 7m,8a;9a,11adiepoxide-A -22a-spirostene-3one, is a valuable intermediate for the production of cortisone since treatment with potassium hydroxide in ethanol produces'from this compound 9a,11a-epoxido-A -22a-spirostadiene-8-ol-3- one. This last compound upon treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst gives the corresponding saturated compound, 9a,11e-epoxido-22a,Spspirostane-S-ol-S-one. The saturated compound upon treatment with boron trifiuoride etherate in benzene gives A -22a,5p-spirostene-3,1l-dione. mentioned compound with lithium in liquid ammonia gave the saturated 22a,5fi-spirostane-3,1l-dione and selective reduction with sodium borohydride gave 22a,5B- spirostane-3a-ol-ll-one which could be conventionally acetylated to the same B-acetate, a known cortisone intermediate previously referred to.

The following specific examples serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the present invention:

Example I A solution of 3 g. of acetate of the 5,8-peroxide of A -22a-spirostadien-3 8-ol in 75 cc. of dioxane was hydrogenated in the presence of Raney nickel. The equivalent of 2.2 molar equivalents of hydrogen was consumed. The catalyst was filtered and the filtrate was diluted with water. The white precipitate was collected, washed and dried. Recrystallization from chloroformhexane afforded 2,4 g. of the 3-acetate of A -22aspirostadiene-3p,5a-diol with a melting point of 263- 265 C., [a] 6 (chloroform); max. 242 m (log 6 4.18).

Saponification with potassium carbonate in a mixture of dioxane, methanol and water gave the free A' 22a-spirostadiene-3fi,5a-diol with a melting point of 214-216 0., [a] =0; x max. 242 my (log 6 4.17).

Example II A solution of 4 g. of the 3-acetate of A -22a spirostadiene-iiflja-diol in 30 cc. of chloroform was treated with one molar equivalent of monoperphthalic acid in ether and the mixture was kept standing at room temperature for two days. A crystalline precipitate separated during this time, which was filtered, washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water, thus yielding 3.1 g. of the monoepoxide acetate with a melt ing point of 295 298 C. Purification and concentration of the mother liquor afforded an additional 0.5 g. with slightly lower melting point. The pure product, namely the acetate of 9a,11a-epoxide-A' -22a-spirostene- 3B,5a-di0l had a melting point of 299-301 C., [411 -42 (chloroform).

Saponification of this compound with potassium carbonate in solution in dioxane, methanol and water gave 9a,11a-epoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3B,5u-diol with a melting point of 226228 C., [01] 60. This same compound can be obtained by oxidation of the free A 22a-spirostadiene-3fi,Sa-diol, obtained in accordance with Example I.

Example 111 1.5 g. of chromic anhydride was dissolved in 150 cc. of pyridine, the solution was cooled in an ice bath and Treatment of the last then added to a solution of tracted with ether. The ether solution was washed with very dilute hydrochloric acid and water, dried and evap- The residue was crystallized from orated to dryness. acetone-hexane, thus yielding 1.2 g. of 9a,11a-epoxido-' A' -ZZa-Spirosten-Sa-ol-3.one with a melting point of 236 238 C., [a] -40 (chloroform).

Example IV alumina; elution with benzene-ether (9:1),followed by crystallization from acetone-hexane afforded 0.14 g. of A -22a-spirostadiene-3,1l-dione with a melting point of 205206 C., [a] +289 (chloroform); max. 242 my.

('l0ge4.32). I

Example V A solution of 1 g. of A -22a-spirostadiene-3B,5adiol, obtained in accordance with the method described in Example I, in 15 cc. of methylene chloride was. treated with an ether solution of monoperphthalic acid (10 cc.

of a 1.05 normal solution) and the mixture was kept standing overnight at room temperature. It was then worked up in accordance with the method described in Example II, and after recrystallization of the substance from acetone there was obtained 0.91 g. of 7a,8a;9a,l1adiepoxide-22a-spirostane-36,5a-diol with a melting point of 277-280 C., [a] -72 (chloroform).

Example VI 0.5 g. of the diepoxido-diol, obtained in accordance with Example V, was dissolved in 15 cc. of pyridine and oxidized with a solution of 0.5 g. of chromicanhydride in 50 cc. of pyridine in accordance with the method described in Example III. Recrystallization from meth anol gave 7a,8u;9a,1la-diepoxido-22a-spirostan-5u-ol-3- with a melting point of 282 -284 C., [a] 52 (chloroform).

Example VII 0.17 g. of 7a,8a;9a,11a-diepoxido-22a-spirostane-35,51 I

diol, obtained in accordance with Example V, was dissolved in 17cc. of toluene and 0.17 cc. of cyclohexanone and 4 cc. of the mixture was distilled in order to remove traces of moisture. 0.4 g. of aluminum isopropylate was then added in 3 cc. of toluene and the mixture was subjected to a slow distillation in such a way that 5 cc. of solvent distilled in the course of 30 minutes. solution was treated with a solution of sodium potas-' sium t'artrate and diluted with ether. The ether layer was washed with water, concentrated under reduced pres 1 sure and the residuewas crystallized from acetone-hexane,

thus yielding 0.08 g. of 7a,8a;9a,lla-diepoxido-A -22aspirosten-3-one with a melting point of 262-264" ;C., [oz] +46 (chloroform); max. 236 my. (log 6 4.16).

The same compound is obtained when the keto-diepoxide obtained in accordance with Example VI is subjected to the treatment just described with omission of hydrogen acceptor.

We claim: 1. A process for the production of a compound selected from the class consisting of 9u,11u-epoxido-A"-22a- Q spirostene-5a-ol-3-one and 7a,8a;9a,11a-diepoxido-22af sp1rostane-Sa-ol-3-one which comprises reducing -a 3- lower fatty acid ester of the 5.8-peroxide of A' .-22aspirostadiene with zinc in alkaline ethanol solution and formmg a compound selected from thegroup consisting a 1.44 g. of 9oz,lltr-epoxido' A -22a-spirostane-3,B,5u-diol in 50 cc. of pyridine and the mixture was kept standing for 14 hours at room tern-f perature. It was then diluted with much water and ex 7 The cooled.

of A -22a-spirostadiene-3fl,5a-diol and 3-lower fatty acid esters thereof, oxidizing said last mentioned compound with an aromatic peracid to form a compound selected from the group consisting of the 9a,11a-epoxide and the 7a,8a;9a,11oz-dlep0Xide thereof, and oxidizing the 3-hydroxy group of the last compounds with a chromic acid.

2. A process for the production of a steroidal compound selected from the group consisting of A' -22aspirostadiene-3fi,5a-diol and 3-lower fatty acid esters thereof which comprises reducing a 3-ester of the 5,8- peroxide of A -22a-spirostadiene-31S-ol with zinc in alkaline ethanol solution.

3. A process for the production of A -22a-spirostadiene-3B,5u-dio1 which comprises treating a lower fatty acid ester of the 5.8-peroxide of A -22a-spirostadiene-3fl-ol with zinc in alkaline ethanol solution.

4. A process for the production of a compound selected from the group consisting of 9a,11u-epoxido-A 2 2a-spirostene-35,5a-diol, 3-esters thereof, 7a,8a;9a,11adiepoxido-ZZa-spi1'ostene-3fl.5a-diol and 3 esters thereof which comprises treating a compound selected from the class consisting of A -22a-spirostadiene-35,5a-diol and esters thereof with an aromatic peracid.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the monoepoxide is formed and approximately 1 molar equivalent of an aromatic peracid is used.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein the diepoxide is formed and approximately 2 molar equivalents of an aromatic peracid are used.

7. A process for the production of A -22a-spirostadiene-3,l1-dione which comprises treating a compound selected from the group consisting of A -22a-spirostadiene-3,B,5a-diol and lower fatty acid esters thereof with approximately 1 molar equivalent of an aromatic peracid, treating 9u,11a-epoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3j8,5u-diol thus produced, with chromic acid to form 9a,11a-epoxido- A' -22a-spirostene-5a-ol-3-one and treating this last-mentioned compound with a boron trifiuoride.

8. A process for the production of 90,11a-6P0Xid0- A"-22a-spirostene-5a-ol-3-one which comprises treating 9a,11a-epoxido-A"-22a-spirostene-3fl,Sat-diol with chromic acid.

' 9. A process for the production of A -22aspirostadiene-3,11-dione which comprises treating 9a,11u-expoxido-A -22a-spirostene-5a-ol-3'one with a boron trifluoride.

10. A process for the production of 7a,8a;9a,11oc-dio epoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3-one which comprises oxidizing 7oz,8a;9a,11a diepoxido-22a-spirostane-3,9,5a diol with chromic acid to form the corresponding 3-ketone and treating the ketone with an aluminum alkoxide in the presence of an inert solvent.

11. A process for the production of 7a,8oz;9a,l1ot-diepoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3-one which comprises treating 7a,8a;9a,l1a-diepoxido-22a-spirostane-3/8,5ot-diol with an aluminum alkoxide in the presence of a ketone hydrogen acceptor and an inert solvent.

12. A new compound selected from the class consisting of 904,11a-epoxido-A"-22a-spirostene 3fl,5a-diol, lower fatty acid esters thereof, 7a,8rx;9oz,lla-diCpOXidO-ZZZlspirostene-3p,5a-diol and lower fatty acid esters thereof.

13. The 3-acetate of 904,11a-epoxido-A -22a-spirostene- 35,5a-di0l.

14. 911,1la-epoxido-A -22a-spirostene-3B,5a-diol. 15. A new compound selected from the class consisting of 90:,11ot-epoxido-A' -22a-spirostene-Sa-ol-B-one and 7a, 8a;9a,l 1a-diepoxido-22a-spirostane-5a-ol-3-one. l6. 9a,1 1a-epoxido-N-Z2a-spirostene-5a-ol-3-one.

17. A -22a-spirostadiene-3,1l-dione. 18. The 3-acetate of 7a,8a;9a,11a-diepoxido-22a-spirostane-3fl,5a-diol.

19. 7at,8oi;9ot,1 1a-diepoxido-22a--spirostane-3fi,5m-diol. 20. 7a,8a;9a,11ot-diepoxido-22a-spirostane-5a-ol-3-one. 21. 7a,8u;9u,11a-diepoxido-A -22a-spirostene-S-one.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,288 Wendler Nov. 23, 1954 2,741,626 Laubach Apr. 10, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Rosenkranz et al.: J.A.C.S., vol. 75, pages 4430-32 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF 9A, 11A-EPOXIDO-$7-22ASPIROSTENE-5A-OL-3-ONE AND 7A,8A,9A,11A-DIEPOXIDO-22ASPIROSTANE-5A-OL-3-ONE WHICH COMPRISES REDUCING A 3LOWER FATTY ACID ESTER OF THE 5,8-PEROXIDE OF $6,9(11)-22ASPIROSTADIENE WITH ZINC IN ALKALINE ETHANOL SOLUTION AND FORMING A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF $7,9(11)-22A-SPIROSTADIENE-3B,5A-DIOL AND 3-LOWER FATTY ACID ESTERS THEREOF, OXIDIZING SAID LAST MENTIONED COMPOUND WITH AN AROMATIC PERACID TO FORM A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE 9A,11A-EPOXIDE AND THE 7A,8A,9A,11A-DIEPOXIDE THEREOF, AND OXIDIZING THE 3-HYDROXY GROUP OF THE LAST COMPOUNDS WITH A CHROMIC ACID.
 12. A NEW COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF 9A,11A-EPOXIDO-$7-22A-SPIROSTENE-3B,5A-DIOL, LOWER FATTY ACID ESTERS THEREOF, 7A,8A,9A,11A-DIEPOXIDO-22ASPIROSTENE-3B,5A-DIOL AND LOWER FATTY ACID ESTERS THEREOF.
 15. A NEW COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF 9A,11A-EPOXIDO-$7-22A-SPIROSTENE-5A-OL-3-ONE AND 7A, 8A,9A,11A-DIEPOXIDO-22A-SPIROSTANE-5A-OL-3-ONE. 